Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) Initiatives

In order to incentivize innovations, it is indispensable to effectively utilize our existing human diversity-including women and youth. Based on this viewpoint, there has been a vitalizing global movement to promote Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) within the field of IP. Understanding the importance of this movement, the Japan Patent Office (JPO) promotes Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) in order to realize a society in which individuals with different backgrounds and values are able to exercise their creativity.

Since 2023, the cross-organizational JPO Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) Team has been working to further accelerate the D&I movement through interviews with IP specialists. The team helped the JPO boost recognition of the need to "respectfully bring together diverse personalities to create synergies that will enhance individual abilities," which was explicitly incorporated as a new "value" in the JPO Mission, Vision and Values (MVV) in June 2024. In addition, the JPO has continued to engage in international collaborations with other IP offices and organizations around the world in order to help establish a global network in the field of DE&I. The JPO also cooperates with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) via its voluntary fund, known as the Funds-In-Trust Japan Industrial Property Global (FIT/Japan IP Global).

Some of the JPO’s DE&I initiatives are introduced here.

DE&I Initiatives at the JPO

I. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) Team

In August 2023, the JPO Design-Driven Management Project established a D&I Team (Renamed "Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Team" in September 2024) to serve as a cross-organizational taskforce comprised primarily of young female personnel. The team is working to turn the JPO into an organization that offers both job satisfaction and an enabling work environment for all members, with a commitment to pursuing diversity and inclusivity.

In 2023, the Team interviewed JPO personnel and other IP professionals in an effort to encourage the development of proactive career visions among JPO officers by compiling a collection of messages aimed at developing positive career visions.

<Our Team Logo>

In 2024, we created a logo for the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) team based on the following concepts, which we first announced on January 24, 2025, via JPOtube.

Concepts:

• The logo is designed with a circle composed of various colors, symbolizing the inclusive engagement of individuals with diverse identities.
• The distortion of the circle represents the flexible nature of the challenges and meanings addressed by DE&I, which evolve with the times and circumstances.

< JPOtube: "How DE&I drives innovation - Interviews with IP professionals around the world about the latest initiatives in their country (Part I / Part II)">

In 2024, JPOtube featured content aimed at learning from IP professionals who are at the forefront of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I). In the first part, we interviewed the international group "The Diversity Pledge" and participating company, Mujin, Inc. We explored the secrets behind the innovations that arise from combining diverse talents, including those of women and foreign personnel. Additionally, in the second part, we also interviewed the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO), which is actively engaged in supporting women's empowerment.

For more details, please check out JPOtube!

II. Research Studies on Gender and Diversity

The matter of diverse human resources is of great importance in the promotion of innovation. Ensuring the inclusiveness of diverse people is an important part of expanding and vitalizing our intellectual property (IP) ecosystem.

The JPO aims to find a way to strengthen the IP ecosystem through the study of gender and diversity in innovative societies.

<Gender Diversity and Inclusion in the IP Ecosystem>

The purposes of this research study are (i) to summarize the current status and issues of female human resources in the IP ecosystem, and (ii) to examine how to improve the environment to promote female empowerment and promote diversity and inclusion within the IP ecosystem. The report summary is available at the following link:

• Report Summary (English) (PDF: 3,229KB)

Cooperation with Organizations in Japan

In line with the accelerating global trends that are propelling diversity and inclusion, it is of great importance to the Intellectual Property community that stakeholders cooperate to establish collaborative networks and enhance environments that foster diversity and inclusivity by holding several events.

I. Trilateral insight-sharing session on diversity and inclusion with the Japan Intellectual Property Association (JIPA) DE & I Society Working Group and the Japan Patent Attorneys Association (JPAA) DE & I Promotion Committee

In July 2024, in the hope of strengthening collaboration with IP-related organizations in Japan, the JPO Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) Team had the first trilateral insight-sharing session on diversity and inclusion with the Japan Intellectual Property Association (JIPA) DE & I Society Working Group and the Japan Patent Attorneys Association (JPAA) DE & I Promotion Committee. During the session, participants shared information on their initiatives that promote lively and fulfilling working environments for people in the IP field, as well as on their recent surveys to capture issues on DE & I in Japan. Having had small group discussions, we reconfirmed the significance of active information dissemination through this trilateral cooperation, to accelerate innovation via advancing diversity and inclusion.

Ⅱ. Co-hosted a Seminar with the Japan Intellectual Property Association (JIPA) DE&I Society Working Group and the Japan Patent Attorneys Association DE&I Promotion Committee: "Women in IP Meet Up 25"

On January 24, 2025, we co-hosted a seminar titled "Women in IP Meet Up 25" in collaboration with the Japan Intellectual Property Association (JIPA) DE&I Society Working Group and the Japan Patent Attorneys Association DE&I Promotion Committee.

This seminar highlighted the challenges that the intellectual property (IP) field must address from a gender perspective in order to foster innovation. By focusing on "IP x Women," we aimed to gain new insights into achieving a more diverse career landscape. The event featured a keynote speech by an instructor from the Japan Business Federation and a panel discussion with role models—both men and women—who have built successful careers in the IP industry.

The speakers shared the appeal and fulfillment of working in the IP field and exchanged ideas on the direction needed to further promote women's participation and expand the reach of intellectual property. Approximately 60 participants attended in person, while around 55 joined online -thereby bringing together a diverse group of IP industry professionals. Attendees were able to reaffirm the attractiveness and significance of careers in IP, while identifying challenges in their immediate environments and learning tips for addressing such issues.

Ⅲ. Trilateral insight-sharing session on diversity and inclusion with the Japan Intellectual Property Association (JIPA) DE & I Society Working Group and the Japan Patent Attorneys Association (JPAA) DE & I Promotion Committee(2nd Meeting: February 2025)

In February 2025, the second opinion exchange meeting among the Japan Intellectual Property Association (JIPA) DE&I Society Working Group, the Japan Patent Attorneys Association DE&I Promotion Committee, and other parties was held at the Patent Attorneys Association Hall. Each leader shared updates on their activities, and then 25 participants were divided into several groups to actively discuss the challenges and solutions regarding DE&I in the IP ecosystem. It was noted that DE&I in the IP ecosystem and in Japan is still at the starting line, and there is a need to clarify the challenges further. It was emphasized that it is important for the three parties to continue collaborating to explore approaches to solving these challenges.

Group photo

Cooperation with global IP offices and organizations

I. Support via FIT/Japan IP Global:
Cooperation with WIPO

The government of Japan supports people with diverse backgrounds and values from local communities and economies in developing countries and least developed countries (LDCs) via its voluntary fund to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), which is known as the Funds-In-Trust Japan Industrial Property Global (FIT/Japan IP Global). Such support helps to deepen understanding of IP systems and the effective utilization of IP, which in turn leads toward the further development of local communities and economies.

Support for Women Entrepreneurs

• The "REGIONAL CONFERENCE ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY FOR WOMEN IN AGRIBUSINESS" was held May 15-17, 2023.

  Zimbabwean Entrepreneur Transforms Her Agribusiness Through WIPO's IP Initiatives (External Link)

Participants in the Agribusiness Conference

Support for Youth Entrepreneurs

• WIPO-ASEAN Youth Digital Forum

  This forum focused on the convergence of young entrepreneurs, the digital economy, and intellectual property (IP). (External Link)

II. Joint message for International Women’s Day

The JPO officially supports the joint message for International Women’s Day among over 60 IP offices and organizations. The JPO has participated in the joint statement every year since 2022, when the joint statement was initiated. Based on the theme for International Women's Day 2025, "For ALL Women and Girls — Rights. Equality. Empowerment," the JPO will also unite with global partners to contribute to sharing the power of IP with all women and girls.

• Joint Statement for International Women’s Day among IP offices and organizations in 2025 (External Link)

(Joint message in the past)

• Joint Statement for International Women’s Day among IP offices and organizations in 2024 (External Link)
• Joint Statement for International Women’s Day among IP offices and organizations in 2023 (External Link)
• Joint Statement for International Women’s Day among IP offices and organizations in 2022 (External Link)

III. Participation in Global Mentoring Pilot

The JPO is one of the 15 offices which are participating in the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) initiative titled "Global Mentoring Pilot". Through mentoring activities with members from global IP offices and organizations, we commit to building a new global network and further promoting the DEIA movement among innovation eco-systems.

IV. Women in IP Symposium

The Women in IP Symposium was held at the USPTO from March 6 - 8, 2024. The JPO, together with global IP offices and organizations around the world, participated in fruitful discussions to promote the further advancement of women’s empowerment. The participants actively discussed a wide range of topics related to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA), including support for women entrepreneurs and the importance of data utilization to reduce the gender gap.

• The women in IP Symposium at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in 2024 (External Link)

Photograph: The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)

DE&I-related Movements

April 2024

The 2024 theme for World Intellectual Property Day (World IP Day, April 26) is "IP and the SDGs: Building our common future with innovation and creativity." Gender equality and women’s empowerment comprise one of the SDGs, but are also significant in all development fields. The JPO has been promoting activities that contribute toward the achievement of the SDGs, including the promotion of DE&I.

• Celebrating World IP Day 2024

December, 2023

The JPO hosted the G7 Heads of IP Office Conversation on December 15th, 2023. During the meeting, the G7 heads held an intense discussion about Diversity and Inclusion within the IP eco-system, and the importance of outreach activities for enhancing this movement.

• JPO Hosts the G7 Heads of IP Office Conversation in the Metaverse

April, 2023

On World Intellectual Property Day (World IP Day) in April 2023, public awareness-raising activities were held in many parts of the world based on the 2023 theme of "Women and IP: Accelerating innovation and creativity".

• Celebrating World IP Day 2023

April, 2022

The JPO highlighted its initiatives and contents to support youth for celebrating World IP Day 2022 under the theme "IP and Youth: Innovating for a Better Future".

• Celebrating World IP Day 2022

Links to relevant information

I. External Links

• Funds-In-Trust Japan Industrial Property Global (External Link)
• Japan Intellectual Property Association (JIPA) (in Japanese) (External Link)
• Japan Women Inventors Association (JWIA) (in Japanese) (External Link)
• Japan Business Federation "Diversity, Equity, Inclusion" (in Japanese) (External Link)

II. The JPO Website

• I-OPEN Project (in Japanese)
• JPO Tube (External Link)

[Last updated 13 February 2025]

Contact Us

International Affairs Section (Global Challenges) International Policy Division E-mail:PA0800@jpo.go.jp